Massaging device



y 1968 F. w. SCHMIDT 3,385,290

MASSAGING DEVICE Filed 001:. 23, 1965 FIC .4

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United States Patent 3,385,290 MASSAGING DEVICE Frieda W. Schmidt, 155 S. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY. 10591 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 502,882 8 Claims. (Cl. 12857) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Motorized massage device adapted for adjustment to massage selected body area-s, the massage device including two spaced apart massage balls, one of which is rotatable by a motor, the other massage ball being freely rotatable and includes means to be fixedly spaced at selected positions in relation to the first roller.

In my massaging device, US. Patent No. 2,641,256, I set forth an improved massaging device which enabled an individual or masseuse to have the benefits of a motorized massage, vastly improved over other mechanical devices of the past. While my prior invention has proven helpful, I have found that improved advantages are available.

The present invention relates to an improved massaging device, and in particular to an improvement of my US. Patent No. 2,641,256 and other mechanical and motorized devices of the past.

In the past, devices including rubber balls or devices to substitute for the skilled hands of the masseuse have been provided. Since the masseuse is not always available, and expensive, it is advantageous to be able to have a machine which can effectively provide much of the special benefit of massage that a masseuse could provide and at a time when it is most needed.

In my prior invention, US. Patent No. 2,641,256, such a device was provided which had the advantage over the prior art of being able to provide a massage with a proper skin kneading and yet avoid the inconveniences of skin pinching. This result was achieved by having two rubber balls or the like spaced apart at an appropriate angle, one of which was rotated at a proper speed and the other freely rotatable to adopt the movement of the massage device and draw in the flesh for the proper massage kneading.

There were, prior to my first device, mechanical ball arrangements which provided some utility with regard to massage and there are motorized devices which may be be employed for massage, none of which provided either the full range of massage kneading and skin grasping available for a proper massage.

Even my prior invention had many serious limitations in that while a massage was easily and properly administrable without skin pinching, increased grasp for various parts of the body was not available nor was it easy to increase the intensity of the massage as desired or different parts of the body in terms of proper grasp of flesh to be massaged.

According to the present invention an improved motorized massage device is provided adapted to massage a greater selection of body areas and with the desired intensity of massage kneading and grasping.

Although such novel feature or features believed to be characteristic of the invention are pointed out in the claims, the invention and the manner in which it may be carried out may be further understood by reference to the description following and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the massaging device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of FIG. 1 at lines 22.

FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 2 at lines 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a view of FIG. 2 at lines 44.

FIG. 5 is a view of FIG. 3 at lines 55.

Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like reference numbers denote like parts in the various figures.

The massage device 1 of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a motor 2 provided with a handle 3 attached to a plate 4. Electric wire 5 enters through the handle 3 and leads through the plate 4 to provide the power for the motor 2.

A switch 6 extends from the plate 4 to provide on and off controls for the motor 2. The switch is in easy reach of a finger of an operator for quick control of the massaging device 1 where required.

The motor 2 is mounted beneath the plate 4 and has extending from it, geared to rotate at proper speed a first massage ball 7 which is rotatable and mounted on a shaft (not shown) for rotation with the shaft to provide the rotation necessary to perform the massage operation.

The second massage ball 8 is freely rotatably mounted on a shaft 9 and spaced apart from the first ball 7.

The shaft 9 is journaled to the plate 10 which is part of the second ball mounting assembly 11 which is firmly mounted on the front of the housing of the motor 2.

The assembly 11 comprises an L plate 12 with a cutout portion 13 and opening 14 adapted to receive a screw 15.

The screw 15 fits into an opening in the super-structure of the motor 2 and engages the L plate 12 in the cut out 13 with the rib 10 of the super-structure so that the assembly 11 is firmly attached to the motor 2.

The L plate 12 is provided with a rivet 17 which joins the L plate 12 and plate 10 rotatably together.

A leaf spring 18 is further held in place by the rivet 17 and extended along the L plate 12 including an engaged pin 19 which passes through the L plate 12 and into a selection from a plurality of openings 20 in plate 10.

A channel 21 recessed in plate 10 provides both a guide and a stop for the pin 19 and does not require its complete withdrawal when the plate 10 is rotated to a new position.

In operation the width of spacing of the balls 7, 8 is determined by the requisites of the area to be massaged. Large areas like the legs and hip may require a greater opening in order to have a proper grasp for massaging.

Mere flexibility of the spacing, such as by spring means, would not provide the stability of operation of a massage device required to give a uniform massage. On the other hand, once the proper spacing of the balls 7, 8 has been set, increased massaging may be provided by increasing the angle of the axis of the massaging device vertically away from the massaged area, providing a greater grasp and kneading of the flesh as required.

The number of openings 20 are optional depending on the required spacing needed or desired.

The channel 21 protects the leaf spring 18 from over stretching and acts as a proper end stop for the pin 19 so that the plates 10, 12 rotatably attached by the rivet 17 may not spring the ball -8 out of massaging relationship with the driven ball 7.

The terms and expressions which are employed are used as terms of description; it is recognized, though, that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

Having thus described certain forms of the invention in some detail, what is claimed is:

-1. A massaging device including a first massage roller, motor means, said mot-or means adapted to rotate said first roller at a speed desired for massaging, a second massage roller, said second roller mounted spaced apart from said first roller and adapted to freely rotate, and means adapted to adjust said second rolled fixed and angularly disposed at a desired spacing from said first roller.

2. A massaging device including motor means, a housing for said motor means, a first massage roller, said first massage roller extending from said motor housing and adapted to be driven by said motor means, mounting means, said mounting means mounted on said motor housing; a second massage roller, said second massage roller mounted on said mounting means spaced apart from said first roller, said second roller adapted to free- 1y rotate, and said mounting means and second roller having means to fixedly space said second roller at selected position in relation to said first roller.

3. A massaging device including motor means, a housing for said motor means, a first massage roller, said first massage roller extending from said motor housing and adapted to be driven by said motor means, mounting means, said mounting means mounted on said motor housing, said mounting means including a mounting plate; said mounting plate attached to said housing; a rotatable plate rotatably attached to said mounting plate; a shaft attached to said mounting plate; and a second massage roller, said second massage roller mounted on said mounting plate spaced apart from said first roller; said second roller adapted to freely rotate, and said mo-uting means and second roller having means to he fixedly 4': spaced at selected positions in relation to said first roller.

4. A massaging device including motor means, a housing for said motor means, a first massage roller, said first massage roller extending from said motor housing and adapted to be driven by said motor means, mounting means, said mounting means mounted on said motor housing, said mounting means including a mounting plate; said mounting plate attached to said housing; an opening in said mounting plate; a pin adapted to pass through said opening; a rotatable plate rotatably attached to said mounting plate; a plurality of openings in said rotatable plate; each said opening adapted to receive said pin; a shaft attached to said mounting plate; and a second massage roller, said second massage roller mounted on said shaft spaced apart from said first roller; said second roller adapted to freely rotate, and said mounting means and second roller adapted to be fixedly spaced at selected positions in relation to said first roller.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said openings are within a channel.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said pin is mounted on a leaf spring.

7. The invention of claim 5 wherein said channel is recessed.

8. The invention of claim 4 wherein said mounting plate is substantially L-shaped.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 'L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner. 

